Pending state/district level vigilance and monitoring committee (V&MC) meetings could deprive states of central funds, the rural development ministry has warned.

The ministry would take up the issue of such non-compliance of guidelines in the performance review meeting to be held in the capital on December 22-23.

The V& MCs, headed by a member of parliament elected from the district, are the RD schemes' implementation watchdog, ensuring adherence to rules and guidelines.

In the agenda for the meeting, the ministry noted that V&MC meetings at state and district level are not held as regularly as envisaged in the guidelines; also the details of the meetings are not getting uploaded on the website of the ministry.

The ministry has sought details of number of state/district meetings held (date-wise) during 2009-10 and 2010-11 and the details of V&MC constitution (date) to be furnished urgently.

Failure to hold meetings, notes the agenda, in accordance with the guidelines, particularly the frequency, may result in withholding of funds.

According to the ministry’s guidelines V&MC meetings are to be held once in every quarter.

Also, the guidelines provide for reimbursement of expenditure of Rs 1,00,000 at the state level and  Rs 50,000 for district level meetings.